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Help! I am Burnt OUT

14K views 33 replies 24 participants last post by  taglicious 
#1 ·
Been fighting a real bad case of burnout the last couple months. Im a little more than halfway through my apprenticeship and next year is my last full year. So i been telling myself hang in there you're almost done. I wasn't trying to quit or anything but being burnt REALLY makes it hard to get up in da morning and stay motivated ya know?

Im not as driven or as excited as I was in the beginning and i would like to get back to that. What do you do when you're burnt out and sick of it all? Lol
 
#3 ·
That was me last winter. I had planned a vacation in November but got slammed with work and cancelled. I became a zombie until May. My brain just went on autopilot. Then I went to Spain for two weeks and that straightened me out.

I never got burnout during my apprenticeship, though. Worked steady forty hour weeks and went to school once a year. I was in my twenties, though, with energy to burn.
 
#4 ·
I never felt burnt, but there were times I hated what I was doing and questioned my choices of career path.

You should look at yourself and see if this is what you want to be doing in 10, 20, 30 years.

Maybe look at a specializing in the trade or leaving the trade for another job completely.

You have a long way to go to retire and you do not want to be in a job you dislike or HATE.
 
#5 ·
Been fighting a real bad case of burnout the last couple months. Im a little more than halfway through my apprenticeship and next year is my last full year. So i been telling myself hang in there you're almost done. I wasn't trying to quit or anything but being burnt REALLY makes it hard to get up in da morning and stay motivated ya know?

Im not as driven or as excited as I was in the beginning and i would like to get back to that. What do you do when you're burnt out and sick of it all? Lol
Is it just the job or do you have other stuff/ drama going on in your life? What is your schedule?
What are your options? You really need to think long term. Finish up your apprenticeship, get your card, and then you will have the cash flow to move on in life. You have an opportunity many wish they had. Don't throw it away. Your job is not the end. It is a tool to accomplish your life goals. Where do you want to be in five or ten years?
 
#6 ·
Commercial mostly. Within that I really can't complain as far as scope of work cuz i have been able to do a wide range of things and im not hesitant about letting my foreman/ journeyman know hey teach me that, and asking questions. Its just the commuting, the bending pipe and pulling wire. So burnt out. I can't wait til i finish and can get into better and more stable and more interesting things for day to day work. Like controls. Or being a PM I think I would like that.
 
#8 ·
You're not suffering burnout, you're suffering from boredom. When I apprenticed, I worked residential, commercial and industrial and was always learning new things. I worked everything from a two man shop to an industrial job that peaked at 250 electricians. You need a change of pace. Even yanking wire in new houses might teach you new things and give you a change of scenery.
 
#11 ·
You're not suffering burnout, you're suffering from boredom. When I apprenticed, I worked residential, commercial and industrial and was always learning new things. I worked everything from a two man shop to an industrial job that peaked at 250 electricians. You need a change of pace. Even yanking wire in new houses might teach you new things and give you a change of scenery.
When I first started I got stuck changing tubes in a 12 story new office building everyday, tubes and ballast I thought if that is all there is to this job I have to move. Things changed I was moved to a deck for the whole winter, coldest winter in DC for 30 years at that time.


After that I got on was on a switch and plug crew for 6 weeks straight HATED THAT, went from there to the trouble shooting crew. Spent months chasing electrical problems in condos, that was the best I learned a ton of stuff about trouble shooting.
 
#12 ·
When I started, I was pulling wire in apartments and condos. I loved that job. Sure, the work could be monotonous and boring but the guys I worked with were great and every day was a laugh fest. I made friends for life.

I could have kept doing that but, for the sake of my career, I knew I had to get different experience. I did commercial work for a small contractor who was very strict and humourless. That lasted for about eight months before we had the "You can't fire me, I quit" discussion. Looking back now, I sure learned a lot from that old codger even if I didn't realize it at the time. I was union and worked for three more contractors after that before completing my apprenticeship.
 
#21 ·
I went through the same thing during my apprenticeship. Almost went back into the military after my third year. Just like you, I didn't really have a reason - just burnt out.

What you have to do is look at what you're doing from the view point that everything is temporary. Now with that, temporary can mean anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 years. But eventually it will change.

You should finish your apprenticeship (you'll kick yourself in the butt later if you don't) and then try to get into a specialty. Go work in facilities, learn controls and instrumentation, relays, all that stuff. You can make some serious money with that knowledge.

Good luck.
 
#22 ·
@eahq thanks man you are right on that. Cuz no matter how burnt out i am i do remember what a good opportunity this is. Finishing and getting my card will all but guarantee me having a job and a decent wage.

Unless an awesome opportunity comes along from my previous work experience (desk work) then no ill never quit.

I think thats why project management interests me cuz many of the guys i work with would go nuts sitting at a desk doing any typa office stuff. But for me i come from that so its nothing for me.

Plus alot of PMs i hear have a degree but little to no field experience so getting my card first would make it a nicer transition i think.

Then theres also controls. My best friend that got me in the trade works in a plant making great money. Hes on a small team of 4 electricians for the whole plant working on awesome stuff at a chill pace so thats appealing too.
 
#25 ·
Possibly a switch to the service division if there is one. Troubleshooting and using the brain a bit is a good change. I am burned out from having too much going on, the phones and the pressure. Grateful to be busy but like others said could use a couple of weeks off. Haven't had much time off since last January. Been doing a lot of seven day weeks. That really ruins the outlook. Finish the apprenticeship and take the test.
 
#26 ·
Im a commercial sparky and went through something similar.

I was in the midst of my apprenticeship had a great time with it but I would watch my company hire guy after guy to be a foreman or lead guy that would utterly suck. Couldn't make production, would make mistakes that I was trained in apprenticeship not to make. These guys would line up to lick the bosses arse while making 20-25 an hour and they couldn't wire a brick outhouse.

So I got real frustrated, vented to someone who told the boss I was running my mouth. I was really
About to give up.

Then they gave me a chance to put my money where my mouth was. They made me a lead guy while in my last year, which was really more training than about how good I thought I was, but I brought a 2 story 100k sq ft building out the ground, ran the rough in wired it did the service ( with a crew of course). Among all the other stuff we did out there I wasnonenof the last to go.

The point is sometimes in the midst of frustration and the worst burn out, you are about to turn a corner and get a real chance to do something great!

Hang in there man!
 
#28 · (Edited)
You might Google "diet and depression"!

Even a daily vitamin might make a world of difference!

Breakfast (what's that) and what's in your lunch box could be making a big difference.

I even started carrying milk in a thermos for lunch, I do so enjoy it!
It saves gas and lunch time not going to the store...

Fruit cups, fig bars, healthy bars or even some vegetables like a pickles(maybe sliced for sandwiches) or other things like adding onions and lettuce to your sandwich. A welder I use to work with eat a whole small scallion every day at lunch...

It also helps that the weather is changing and keeping things cold is easier!

Treat yourself to a healthy lunch daily...

Why your diet can make or break depression recovery
 
#30 ·
You might Google "diet and depression"!

Even a daily vitamin might make a world of difference!

Breakfast (what's that) and what's in your lunch box could be making a big difference.

I even started carrying milk in a thermos for lunch, I do so enjoy it!
It saves gas and lunch time not going to the store...

Fruit cups, fig bars, healthy bars or even some vegetables like a pickles(maybe sliced for sandwiches) or other things like adding onions and lettuce to your sandwich. A welder I use to work with eat a whole small scallion every day at lunch...

It also helps that the weather is changing and keeping things cold is easier!

Treat yourself to a healthy lunch daily...

Why your diet can make or break depression recovery
Why couldn't I have seen this post at my start in 06'
Took me so long to realize, yup those lulls, dude you're tired lol. It's life being constipated and not realizing that's the thing ruining you're life 😅 So if you weren't constipated, eating poorly, or needed to work with different people..... then you probably aren't an electrician today huh?
I'm 16 years in the trade and yeah basically those three things have all been leading factors in all of my burnout phases.
 
#31 ·
Vacations help a lot. A Change of pace and scenery helps even more. Putting the phone down and completely disconnecting from work for a couple days is about as good as it gets.

Ive burnt out a few times myself as well. This seems to be common for most men. My mid-life crisis hit around 33-34 and lasted a couple years. Seemed like nothing I did would make me feel better, but looking back now, it was just a faze. A moment in time. No different that a teenager going through puberty.
 
#32 ·
Been fighting a real bad case of burnout the last couple months. Im a little more than halfway through my apprenticeship and next year is my last full year. So i been telling myself hang in there you're almost done. I wasn't trying to quit or anything but being burnt REALLY makes it hard to get up in da morning and stay motivated ya know?

Im not as driven or as excited as I was in the beginning and i would like to get back to that. What do you do when you're burnt out and sick of it all? Lol
If you’re burnt out as an apprentice, quit tomorrow and find yourself another line of work
 
#33 ·
I agree with a lot of options here even the tongue & cheek ones 🤣 If you are truly looking for an answer/suggestion, look at your variables.
Take 1-10 in any order you need... this is just a baseline...
Hold tight here:
1. Are you married
2. Do you have kids
3. Are you living at home with your parents
4. Do you have ginormous bills
5. Do you have enough experience to pick up and go somewhere else and thrive?
6. How is your attitude? <BE HONEST>
7. How is the current place treating you
8. Have you checked with the boss to see if there is any 'other skillset' you can work on
9. Are you good at what you do
a. Are you requested by others in that regard
b. Have you been asked to take a leadership role
b.(1) have you been (2) can you
10. Are you currently working

There may be a 'shortage of electricians' but unless you're willing to throw it all out there to travel and exploit your skills, then just hold tight, talk to the boss without everyone around. Get help if needed to make a rational, not argumentative conversation, about your career as an electrician, your need for knowledge, and your role as a long term employee in that company. Sounds hokey, and comes with risks, rewards, and sometimes set backs. You cannot blame anyone but yourself for not trying any and all.

After reading this, if the answer no, or not possible is related to any of these questions, then go somewhere else to work.

Stay in to finish your school. THE CARD is your key goal.
 
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